gil4

So this shirt is racist? http://tsa.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-9384361dt.jpg Sorry, it's a common way to refer to the players. Maybe the tone of voice gave more meaning than text can convey, but my guess is you just heard something where there was nothing. There is enough real racism around. It's a serious charge, and you had better be damned sure you are right before you start throwing around accusations.

I had it narrowed down to Blackburn, Pavano, and Capps, so I guess I didn't know who you were talking about. Since it's apparently Nishioki, I would rather send him down, let him rot on the bench, and do everything we can to make him want to go back to Japan on his own.

You can insure just about anything. You might not like the price. I don't think either of these guys should get a contract that is a large enough risk to require mitigating with insurance. (Major keague teams insure Mauer-like contracts, not Marquis-like contracts.)

"...because they think Joe Mauer should be traded for a pitching machine and an old Phillie Phanatic costume?" The Phillie Phanatic costume too? That changes everything! Siorry. Are sarcasm and bad attempts at humor still allowed? Those are my main contributions.

Would you be breaking out your dance moves next?

If I didn't know how the numbers worked, I'd say something like "with the Twins' pitching this year, of course the numbers are up." Don't they normally try to get a 3-year average to normalize the numbers because the park factors tend to fluctuate? (Variations in pitchers faced and interleague play opponents, plus a sample size that's not quite large enough can skew the results over one season.

The Twins did score in the bottom of the ninth, so hopefully nobody. I know, there's no guarantee they score if it's a tie game, and there's no guarantee Perkins goes 1-2-3. I guess I've always been of the opinion that you play your best cards while you have them and let the chips fall where they may, rather than hold them for a situation that might never come. I'd rather have perkins in a high-leverage situation than Gray. The situation in the top of the 9th and top pf the 11th are essentially the same. I would rather use Perkins forst and try to prevent a top of the 11th.

I know the bloggers and on-line commenters aren't close to the situation and don't have all of the data. That's why it's frustrating that the bloggers get right and the team medical staff and management get it wrong so often.

That's going too far

Our pitching and large quantities of beer do seem to go together, but it would be nice to get to the point where one to celebrate is enough.

I'm sure the flight in the other direction is much more stressful, especially since it usually comes with a major pay cut. (I'm sure the cut from the MLB minimum to the pittance most minor leaguers make is pretty painful.)

None of the three prospects the Astros got were even top 100. I would assume if someone offered a top 25, we'd take it. Isn't Sano right around 26? If someone ofers a prospect similar to Sano for 2 months of Frankie, we'd take it. David Stern might have to cross sports and get involved in that trade, though.

I would like to see the Twins sign Liriano to an extension. He said he would like to stay - offer the chance. I just get the feeling that he is figuring out what it takes to be successful, and he's more worthy of a roll of the dice that anyone else out there. If something in the neighborhood of 3 years/$27M could get it done, I'd do it.

Chief, you work with people who move all the time. The shorter the notice, the more stress. More money doesn't necessarily reduce the stress, although they obviously have more resources to throw at the stressors. It's still difficult to pick up and move, whether you're an A1C with a wife and kid, a Major married to a Captain with no kids, or a ballplayer making $1M+. The military member is going to have a few days to take care of business; the ballplayer is going to be expected to be in uniform in Toronto (or wherever) the next night.

Butera signed a ball for one of my kids, so I kind of root for him. It's fun to hear my son tell his friends that he has a ball signed by the Twins' catcher. Of course, they assume it's Joe Mauer, so he has to tell them, "No, it's ... Dad what's his name again?" We've had that same conversation at least three times.

I didn't see that this was posted here too. I followed the link to the blog in the GameDay's Twins Blogosphere Guide, and there was some discussion there. The way I see it is this: Carroll was legally on the base (7.01). Casilla wasn't on the base, so 7.03 a and b don't apply. Casilla is out for going out of the baseline.

I like the idea too, but the roster thing is fairly minor - the odds of both the MLB team and the AAA team being home at the same time are about 1 in 4. Most roster moves give guys enough time to get on a plane and make the next game, and the Twins usually wait around for a week before making a move anyway. My preference would have been for them to dump (or be dumped by) Rochester last year and grab OKC for AAA, but I prefer a 2 hour drive for me rather than for the players being recalled.

Capps get the win and is Pitcher of the Day for pitching 1 inning and being the 3rd most effective pitcher for his team in the game. Hasn't he received enough that he didn't deserve already? I guess it's a minor thing compared to the millions he got as a "Proven Closer" for not sucking too bad for a couple of key stretches in his life...

Not until they trade Liriano

That might be asking too much, but we might be able to use the rays to incapacitate the scouts the next time they ask to make a trip to Japan to scout a hot prospect.

Your -60 UZR would still be a better indicator

The park factors compare the Twins at home vs. Twins on the road and Twins opponents at Target vs. the opponents while Twins are the visiting team. So someone did consider that...in the early 80's (or earlier) when they started measuring that.

Closer: Someone other than Capps

He's hitting for more power than I expected. The .130 average he had earlier wasn't going to hold, but it still remains to be seen if he will hit enough (or defend well enough) to stay in the league. I'm reasonably optimistic, but then I guess I always am (except when I'm unreasonably optimistic.)

This really feels like last year. There was a horrible start, a recovery in June to give us some hope. I think 46-51 was the record before the bottom fell out. Last year the injuries really hit in July. If they can stay healthy and if the pitching holds together (big ifs) they have enough offense to win a weak division. A couple of weeks ago I looked at the schedule and thought that maybe they could make a run and get to .500 by the end of June. It was wishful thinking from an irrational optimist, and even now it's a bit of a stretch. If they can go 15-4 for the rest of the month... (Finish the sweep of the Cubs, then 2 of 3, 2 of 3, sweep; repeat). Diamond seems to have figured something out and it might be sustainable. I'm not so confident in Walters. I'm still hopeful about Liriano, although I have accepted reality about my preseason Cy Young prediction for him. (I bought a Liriano replica jersey for $30 on Amazon during the off season and it affected my brain. I guess I should have gone with the Morneau jersey, but then I probably would have tagged him for MVP.) Pavano and Blackburn are both big question marks, bot hfor health and performance, and the DL might be the safest place for both of them. (I suppose they could just alternate.) Manship (or is it Shipman or Manhsip?) might finally be ready and healthy. Either Duensing or Swarzak would be OK in the rotation if needed. I know Devries is a MN guy and it was a nice story, but AAA is his place. OK, the pitching scares me, but it's possible to put together a good, young rotation with this bunch. If that happens (I said possible, not likely) then we might have a season after all.